Ethos and Code of Conduct

Our ethos is to encourage children and young people at all levels of ability and achievement to enjoy and benefit from swimming.

We are happy for our members to be involved in other sports and activities as well as swimming. Our training sessions promote a healthy lifestyle in a social and fun environment, and provide physical relaxation and a welcome break from the demands of school for the older swimmers.

Many also form strong long term friendships within the club. Some of our older swimmers get involved in coaching themselves and can also use the club to support their GCSE Physical Education course work.

Our head coach is Sarah Williams, who has been coaching Henley Swimming Club since 2013. Her team of coaches include Miles Gallagher, who is a former National level swimmer, Anne Franklin and Silvain Buche.

All our coaches hold the Royal Life Saving Society Teacher’s Award which is renewed every two years.

See our Code of Conduct below for parents/carers, swimmers and coaches.

Code of Conduct - Parents / Carers

Refrain from entering onto poolside during training or competition unless invited to do so by the coach.

Never engage in, or tolerate, offensive, insulting or abusive language or behaviour

Applaud effort as well as success

Remember that children are swimming for FUN

Be patient with progress – understand that the journey can be a long one.

Never force your swimmer to take part in swimming.

Training Sessions/Galas

Ensure that your swimmer arrives at training in good time before the start of the session/Galas.

Always respect the officials' decisions

Ensure the coach has a contact number for you if you are not staying for the session

Ensure your child is aware who is collecting them and has the correct contact number (lift shares in particular).

Your child’s behaviour and safety is your responsibility until they are pool side and in the presence of a coach at the start of a session. They then become the coach’s responsibility until the swimmer leaves the pool side at the end of the session. At that point, all parents must resume responsibility for their children.

Be supportive and not intrusive, trust the coaches and do not try and interfere with the session.

Confirm availability in reasonable time

Inform the coach or team manager immediately or as soon as practicably possible of any changes in availability

Code of Conduct - Swimmers

Swimmers must wear suitable kit for training and the team kit/colours for galas

Swimmers must respect the pool facilities, equipment and other pool users when attending training sessions or open meets/galas

Swimmers must be on their best behaviour in changing rooms (before and after swimming) and respect others as well as facilities.

Listen to my coach and respect what he/she says

Pay attention to pre-training instructions and explanations of the set – it wastes time for both the coaches and the swimmers if instructions need repeating due to lack of attention

All swimmers must respect the rights, dignity and worth of all participants regardless of gender, ability, cultural background or religion. Never be rude to my team-mates, the other team, Gala officials, spectators or my coach/team manager

Do what the Gala officials tell me

Always do your best

Lane Etiquette

Swimmers are allocated to training lanes by the coaches – accept their decisions and train accordingly.

Be considerate to allow a faster swimmer to pass safely by slowing down, avoid stopping where possible, and do not submerge to let the swimmer pass

Faster swimmers must realise that slower swimmers are trying just as hard as they are and their set is no less important.

Code of Conduct - Coach / Manager

Show respect to all including, Gala officials

Adhere to the British swimming association rules and regulations

Display and promote high standards of behaviour

Never engage in public criticism of the Gala officials

Never engage in, or tolerate, offensive, bullying, insulting or abusive language or behaviour.

When working with swimmers, I will:

Place the well-being, safety and enjoyment of each swimmer above everything, including winning

Explain exactly what I expect of swimmers and what they can expect from me

Ensure the parents/carers of all swimmers under the age of 18 understand these expectations:

Develop mutual trust and respect with every swimmer to build their self-esteem

Encourage each swimmer to accept responsibility for their own behaviour and performance

Ensure all activities I organise are appropriate for the swimmers’ ability level, experience, age and maturity